“How are allergies diagnosed?”

Allergies are diagnosed by an allergist, a medical doctor that test for different allergens. Allergies can be caused by mold, pollen, food, or a changing in seasons. The immune system produces antibodies that are on alert for any specific allergen. The symptoms are runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, shortness of breath, cough fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, hay fever among others. Now, what causes allergies? Airborne allergens: Mold, animal dander, dust mites, and pollen. Foods: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, wheat, eggs, soy, fish, and shellfish. Insect: bees and wasps. Medications: Penicillin-based antibiotics. Seek your health care provider and he or she can tell you precisely by testing allergens. Thank you.

Allergies to a particular substance are often first suspected based on observations that exposure to the substance correlates with allergy symptoms. Withdrawing the substance would relieve the symptoms and
re-introducing the substance provokes the symptoms again. To get the allergy more definitely diagnosed, consider allergen testing (often done through pricking the skin with different allergens to look for a response) and looking for antibodies against a substance in the blood. These tests are generally done by a specialist known as an allergist or immunologist.

Go to an allergist. They will do a variety of tests. Can be costly and not paid for by insurance. There are blood tests and skin tests. The allergist would know more details. Thanks.

RB Thomas,MD